Wellness and SmartPak team
to fight canine obesity

IN an effort to encourage portion control as a key tool in battling the growing epidemic of obesity in dogs, Wellness® and SmartPak™ have announced an alliance to make Wellness brands of dog food available in custom daily-dose SmartPaks.

According to the US Food and Drug Association, between 25percent and 35percent of all dogs are overweight or obese, a problem that studies show can have a negative impact on an animal's health. Managing serving size is an acknowledged way to manage a dog's weight. "Keeping your dog at the right weight is more than just a cosmetic issue," says Dr. Lydia Gray, SmartPak's staff veterinarian. "Recently published research has shown that feeding dogs a restricted calorie diet can extend the median life span by nearly two years. Not only did the trimmer dogs live longer, the onset of chronic diseases, such as arthritis, was delayed.

"Just as with people, diet and exercise will help to maintain a dog's healthy weight," added Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist Edward Moser, MS, VMD, DACVN. "When you have an overweight dog, pet owners need to control the animal's calorie intake. It is the pet owner's responsibility to measure the food and keep track of the feeding schedule. They should be sure the food is high quality, made with the finest natural ingredients that meet a balanced diet."

It is the dual requirement to feed the right food in the right amount to combat canine obesity that gave rise to the partnership between Wellness and SmartPak. Wellness has become a leading natural brand by pioneering dog and cat food recipes using the finest natural ingredients, such as all-natural human-grade boneless chicken and hormone-free New Zealand lamb, healthy grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Wellness diets represent the most nutritious ingredients used in the correct proportions and balance. Recognizing the issue of weight management early on, Wellness developed a special weight management formula in consultation with leading veterinarians.

"Wellness foods have consistently received top product rankings by consumers and experts alike. We are delighted to be partnering with them to both raise awareness of canine obesity as well as to offer a comprehensive solution to the problem," says Paal Gisholt, SmartPak’s President and CEO. Veterinarians find portion control is often the missing link in helping a beloved family dog to reach a healthy weight. With SmartPaks, this temptation is avoided - no matter who feeds. SmartPaks achieve perfect portion control by providing individually packed and sealed portions of food, custom-sized for a dog's needs and delivered to the doorstep each month.

"Our commitment has always been to the animal first," says Mark Shuster, Wellness vice-president of marketing. "This latest innovation, offering our products in a SmartPak portion control system, reinforces that commitment." In addition to facilitating canine weight loss, dog owners across the country have embraced SmartPak for its convenience. They make it simple to travel with a dog, to board a dog, to use a pet sitter and to have children feed the family dog correctly. Wellness recognized the importance of convenience and has made its entire canine product line available in SmartPaks, including the Simple Food Solutions allergy line.

A 28-day supply of Wellness' weight management food fed at a rate of two cups per day costs just $29.80 per month. Orders may be placed on the company’s website at www.smartpakcanine.com or by phoning toll free (800) 461-8898.

The Wellness brand of natural food and treats for pets was founded on the belief that, "You are what you eat" - and that incorporating a holistic approach to a healthy, nutritious diet is the foundation of wellbeing. With this mission, a committed team of vets, nutritionists, and animal lovers has spent decades creating the very best in all-natural nutrition for both dogs and cats. All Wellness food and treat varieties feature recipes using human-quality ingredients without the use of meat by-products, fillers, potential allergens, artificial colors, flavors or artificial preservatives. Wellness is proud to be a part of the Old Mother Hubbard pet food family, which celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2006. Wellness is sold exclusively through knowledgeable independent pet stores and natural food stores in North America. For more information, please visit www.wellnesspetfood.com.

Since its founding in 1999, SmartPak has custom-packaged over 100 million feedings of supplements, foods, and medications for horses and dogs. The SmartPak feeding system has been featured in over 40 publications, including Fortune, Small Business and Inc Magazine. SmartPak received the 2005 Innovation Award from the Smaller Business Association of New England, was named to the Inc 500 list of America’s fastest growing companies in 2005 and 2006, and was recognized by Winning Workplaces with a Best Bosses Award in 2006. The company offers a wide assortment of pharmaceuticals and pet care supplies via its catalog, its Natick, MA-based retail store, and its website.